argon anoxic fumigation Has many advantages:

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  • it has been scientifically proven to eradicate insect life, in all of its stages

  • it is harmless to most art and cultural heritage objects

  • it is safe for humans if handled correctly

  • it can be used to eradicate mold spores on sensitive art objects

  • a large variety of art, ethnographic and archival objects can be treated

  • envelopes of various sizes can be created to conform to the requirements of a specific object

  • large and very large scale art objects can be treated.

  • wooden objects present unique treatment challenges due to the presence of insects deep in the channels of the wood, which are partially blocked by frass, a byproduct of their activity. Argon gas, due to its higher molecular weight will over time be able to penetrate these channels and displace other gases, and thereby increase the reliability of treatment.

SPECIFICS: All of our treatments are performed by Yuri Yanchyshyn, a furniture conservator who is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation, and who adheres to the ethical guidelines of the organization. Oxygen levels are monitored periodically and a written log is kept. Treatments are performed in our temperature and humidity controlled, alarmed and sprinklered studio in Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ. Treatments can also be performed throughout the United States, onsite at your residence or institution. In addition, Mana Contemporary has temporary rental spaces available for very large or sensitive art objects. These temporary spaces have the following characteristics:

  • 70 degrees (+or- 3 degrees)

  • 50 percent relative humidity (+ or - 3 percent)

  • 24 hour security 

  • Cameras, motion detectors, door breaks, audible alarms, etc

  • Alerts go directly to the police department

  • Concrete building

  • Pre-action fire suppression

  • Two fire departments within a three mile radius (closest is one mile)

EXCEPTIONS: two studies listed below outline certain potential risks for works of art using controlled atmosphere argon gas treatment: In one study a number of pigments, when not in a binder, will fade. In the second, Prussian blue, when identified in dyed historic textiles will temporarily fade, and then recover. Please consult the articles for specific details and conclusions.

FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES:

Selwitz, C. and S. Maekawa 1998. Inert Gases in the Control of Museum Insect Pests. Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute. Read here

Koestler, R.J., C. Tavzes, and F. Pohleven, 2004, A New Approach on the Conservation of Wooden Heritage, International Research Group on Wood Preservation, Paper prepared for the 35th Annual Meeting, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 6-10 June, 2004 Read here

 Rowe, Sophie (2004) The Effect of Insect Fumigation by Anoxia on Textiles Dyed with Prussian Blue, Studies in Conservation, 49:4, 259-270 Read here

 Arney, J.S., Jacobs, A.J., Newman, R. (1979) The Influence of Oxygen on the Fading of Organic Colorants, Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 18:2, 108-117 Read here

Valentin, Nieves (1993) Comparative Analysis of Insect Control by Nitrogen, Argon and Carbon Dioxide in Museum, Archive and Herbarium Collections, International Biodeterioration and BIodegradation 32 263-278 Read here

Koestler, R.J. (1995) Anoxic Treatment for Insect Control in Panel Paintings and Frames with Argon Gas, Papers presented at the Twenty-Third Annual Meeting of the American Institute for Conservation, St. Paul, Minnesota Read here

Tavzed, C., Pohleven, J., Pohleven, F., Koestler, R.J. (2002) Anoxic Eradication of Fungi in Wooden Objects, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Read here

ARGON ANOXIC FUMIGATION IS AN EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE OF A MUSEUM’S INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

KENSINGTON PRESERVATION LLC ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP, WHO ALSO PUBLISH MUSEUMPESTS.NET